PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND BUSINESS: EMPOWERING OUR CITIES WITH CEO FORUM

The second CEO Forum, held in Brussels (24 – 25 January, 2018) brought together the leadership of public transport organisations and the Chambers of Commerce of major global cities. This Forum was jointly organised by UITP and Transport for London and hosted by the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and AEMC, the Alliance of European Metropolitan CCI

The aim of the CEO Forum – featuring Mike Brown, MVO, Commissioner of Transport for London, Oliver Willocx, Chief Executive of the Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry and Mohamed Mezghani, UITP Secretary General – was to strengthen the relationship between public transport and business in our cities. Around 50 industry leaders from around the world focused on the mutual benefits of close collaboration and the joint case for better urban policies. The event encouraged fruitful exchanges and closer collaboration, challenges and policies going forward.

During the sessions, discussions were held on sourcing of public transport funding for cities; the New Urban Agenda in the context of public transport infrastructures and services sustainability, challenges for liveable big metropolitan areas and mega-cities and working towards an action plan for strengthening collaboration. This included a working group, integration in UITP working priorities and next steps – plus joint recommendations in a Policy Brief.

The even focused on the mutual beneﬁts of closer collaboration, the various sources of funding, the challenges in the context of the New Urban Agenda and the joint case for better urban policies. For each theme, good practice case studies were presented, followed by a moderated discussion between participants. The objective was to agree on an Action Plan to enable public transport and business organisations across the world to work together, and to develop a Joint Policy Brief with which to make the case for sustainable investment and long-term mobility strategies in our cities.